Tag Archives: Q400

Flybe calls for domestic flights from South Ruislip’s RAF Northolt until a new runway is built at Heathrow or Gatwick

Flybe (Exeter) has told MPs that South Ruislip’s RAF Northolt, a Royal Air Force base in the Northwest section of the greater London area, should be opened up for domestic flights until a new runway is built at either Heathrow or Gatwick Airports.

The London Evening Standard is reporting that Britain’s largest regional airline said “there is a need for early wins” in freeing up flight slots before either Gatwick or Heathrow expands, which won’t be until well into the 2020s, in written evidence handed to the Transport Select Committee.

The Airports Commission will recommend which major airport of the two should get an extra runway after May’s UK General Election. But either choice could be heavily delayed as environmental campaigners and local groups mount legal challenges to any expansion.

Flybe said Northolt, which will celebrate its centenary next year and was home to fighter squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain, could be “a temporary ‘satellite’ facility for regional services that do not currently have air traffic until new runway capacity is built and operational”.

The low-cost airline’s submission also repeated calls for the reform of Air Passenger Duty, which ranges from £13 to £194 a flight depending on distance and class of travel.

Reported by Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JEDM (msn 4077) is pictured at Amsterdam.

Flybe aircraft slide show:

Aegean Airlines Group reports strong passenger growth and an increased profit of $96.5 million for the first 9 months

Aegean Airlines Group (Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air) (Athens) reported its net profit for the first nine months increased 33 percent to €78.6 million ($96.5 million).

The airline group issued this statement:

Aegean Airlines Group reported a strong set of nine month 2014 results, driven by successful network expansion and Olympic Air synergies. Consolidated revenue increased by 10% to €736 million, pre-tax earnings improved to €105.4 million from €75.9 million while net earnings rose by 31% to €78.6 million from €60 million in 2013.

Αegean Airlines and Olympic Air carried 7.9 million passengers in the 9-month period to September 2014, an increase of 14% compared to 2013 with load factor at 79%. Traffic in the domestic network increased by 16% with the market showing good elasticity to lower fares. International traffic rose by 12%, with traffic out of Athens registering a higher growth rate of 18% on the back of Aegean’s network expansion and a strong rebound for the city’s incoming tourism.

Operating cash flow improved to €124 million, resulting to cash & short term investments rising to €264m at the end of September, despite the share capital return which took place in July 2014 as well as pre-delivery payments to Airbus in relation to the recently announced aircraft order.

Mr. Dimitris Gerogiannis, Managing Director, commented:

“We have managed to deliver improved commercial and financial results, driven by synergies from Olympic Air integration, network optimization targeting improved connectivity as well higher tourist flows. Our expansion strategy has yielded positive results in a period of intensifying competition and despite traffic weakness demonstrated from the Russian market.

We will continue to invest in growing our fleet and capacity for 2015, adding destinations and penetrating new source markets for Greek tourism. Our key priorities involve continuous investments in growing our network, achieving scale economies as well as focusing on new service offerings to our passengers within a fast changing competitive environment that does offer however significant opportunities to grow further.”

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Olympic Air is gradually being integrated into Aegean. Olympic Air now just operates aircraft of one manufacturer, Bombardier, under its brand, essentially now a regional feeder airline for Aegean Airlines. Former Flybe Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECV (msn 4148) is now SX-BIT with Olympic Air.

Aegean Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/Aegean-Airlines

Luxair to fly to Olbia and Palermo next summer

Luxair (Luxembourg) will operate summer seasonal service from Luxembourg to Olbia (twice weekly with Bombardier Q400s) from May 17 through September 27, 2015 per Airline Route.

In addition, the carrier will also operate to Palermo starting on May 24, 2015 with Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets. From July 5 through September 13, 2015 the airline will operate a Luxembourg-Malta-Palermo-Luxembourg routing.

Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) LX-LGC (msn 4162) taxies onto the runway at Frankfurt.

Luxair aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Luxair-Luxembourg-Airlines

Aer Lingus and Flybe begin a codeshare partnership

Aer Lingus (Dublin) has started a codeshare partnership with low-cost airline Flybe (Exeter). This partnership sees the EI code appear on the following five routes between Dublin and the United Kingdom per Airline Route. These codeshare services began on November 10, 2014.

Aer Lingus routes operated by Flybe:

Dublin – Donegal
Dublin – Exeter
Dublin – Inverness
Dublin – London Southend
Dublin – Southampton

Report by Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock.

Today we welcome to the World Airline News Team, Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock.

Oliver will be focusing on the airlines of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECY (msn 4157) of Flybe lands in Southampton.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Flybe aircraft slide show:

Bombardier delivers two Q400s to Air Côte d’Ivoire

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has delivered Air Côte d’Ivoire’s (Abidan) first two DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen turboprops (msn 4474 and 4478). The two aircraft will be showcased today (Saturday, November 15) during an inauguration event in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

The purchase agreement between Bombardier and Air Côte d’Ivoire, which covers two firm-ordered Q400 NextGen aircraft plus two options, was announced on December 18, 2013.

Air Côte d’Ivoire is the national airline of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-FBUO (msn 4478) is pictured at Downsview, Ontario prior to the handover.

Route Map:

Flybe reshapes its operating network, sells its Flybe Finland operation for €1

Flybe (Exter) is making a lot of moves to streamline its operations under its new CEO Saad Hammed.

The company has announced that it will open a new base at Bournemouth Airport from March 29, 2015. Two 78-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft will be deployed to meet demand for key routes to and from Bournemouth. The airline’s Summer 2015 schedule will start with a new year-round, double daily service between Bournemouth and Glasgow.

In addition Flybe will, from May 2015, operate a number of additional new routes to include Amsterdam, Manchester, Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Jersey, Dublin, Deauville (Normandy) Toulon and Biarritz.

The airline also announced it will re-open its base at Aberdeen Airport effective from the start of next year’s Summer season on March 29, 2015.

Four 78-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft will be based at the airport to service and meet demand for key routes to and from Aberdeen that include those to London (City), Manchester and the Flybe Shuttle.

The news of the base re-opening comes on the back of Flybe last month starting double-daily flights to and from London City Airport, and its innovative three times a day Flybe Shuttle service to Jersey via Leeds/Bradford and Southampton.

Flybe will also start operations at London Stansted Airport from March 15, 2015. This will feature year-round services to the Isle of Man (up to three flights a day) and double daily flights to Newcastle, together with seasonal summer flights to Newquay.

Previously on October 26 the airlines started its winter schedule with up to 2,787 flights a week.

New routes for winter are: Aberdeen to Leeds/Bradford, Birmingham to Oslo and Berlin (Tegel) (and also the first winter for popular summer routes to Cologne, Lyon, Toulouse, Florence and Porto), Dublin to Inverness, Manchester to Amsterdam and the return of the daily Exeter to Newcastle service.

Finally to make way for this expansion, Flybe has sold its loss-making Flybe Finland operation for €1 to Finnair. Flybe, struggling to return to profitability, has also cancelled an order of 20 new aircraft.

Flybe Finland started operations on October 30, 2011.

Read the full report by The Telegraph: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Flybe’s Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JEDV (msn 4090) is seen at Southampton.

Flybe aircraft slide show:

Flybe Finland cities:

Airberlin celebrates 25 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall with special flights over Berlin on November 8, will cut another 200 jobs

Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin-Tegel) is planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with three Bombarider Q400 special flights over the city of Berlin on November 8:

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Airberlin is offering three sightseeing flights over Berlin during the evening of November 8, tracing the course of the former Wall. The flights are being conducted using a Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) with a seating capacity of 76 and will operate between 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. from Berlin-Tegel Airport. They are accorded flight numbers AB 1989, AB 1990 and AB 1991, thus evoking the year of the fall of the Wall, the year of reunification, and the year of the relaunch of Airberlin as a German airline following the watershed events. From the particularly low flying altitude of approximately 1,000 meters (3,000 feet), the special flight passengers will be able to view the 15-kilometer-long ‘illuminated border’ made up of 8,000 luminous balloons stretching from Bornholmer Strasse to the Oberbaum Bridge. The light installation will illuminate a section of the former course of the Wall from November 7-9. An experienced city guide will accompany the special flights and narrate the history of the divided city of Berlin.

On the ground, too, Airberlin is represented within a section of the ‘illuminated border’ at the East Side Gallery. In keeping with the airline’s anniversary, 35 balloon sponsorships were raffled via its social media channels, on its website, via international media and among staff. The sponsors will be present in person along this stretch during the evening of November 9 to release their helium-filled balloon from its mooring and, thus, to gradually give wings to the ‘illuminated border’.

A further highlight on the afternoon of November 9 is to be the painting of two original sections of the Wall for Airberlin by the well-known French artist Thierry Noir. As early as in 1990, the artist designed sections of the East Side Gallery, nowadays considered protected monuments. Thierry Noir will complete work on the 3.6-meter-tall T-shaped sections live on the spot. The sections of the Wall will then be exhibited at the Berlin-Tegel Airport for a period of six months.

The fall of the Wall is synonymous with a specific milestone in the 35-year history of Airberlin: while Germany was divided, only airlines of Allied nations were permitted to fly to West Berlin. Thus Airberlin, founded as an American charter airline named Air Berlin USA, was able to offer flights from West Berlin from 1979. Upon German reunification, the situation changed radically and Airberlin lost its air traffic rights. Only upon relaunch as a German airline in 1991 were the foundations laid for continued development to the status of the second largest German airline.

Tickets for the special flights are available online at airberlin.com/fallofthewall at a price of 99 euros per person and can also be reserved around the clock via the company’s Service Center by calling +49 (0)30/3434 3434 (local rates apply).

In other news, on October 26 Airberlin started flying to Milan’s downtown Linate Airport as previously reported. Airberlin issued this statement:

Since Sunday, October 26, 2014 all Airberlin Group flights have been taking off and landing at Milan Linate airport. The crew of flight AB 8406 from Dusseldorf, Alitalia employees and Airberlin ground crew greeted the first flights with an official “Benvenuto Linate”. The codeshare agreement between the Airberlin Group and Alitalia allows the airlines to offer their passengers a total of all the 412 nonstop flights of Airberlin, Niki and Alitalia between Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy under a joint flight number.

Additionally Airberlin increased service on the Berlin-Abu Dhabi route:

Airberlin now operates two flights a day between the German capital and Abu Dhabi. On Sunday, October 26, Captain Christoph Runge and his crew manned the first of these doubled-frequency flights. At 11:30 o’clock, the Airbus A330-200 took off from Berlin-Tegel Airport with 226 passengers and 10 crew members on board with destination of Abu Dhabi.

Finally in other news, Airberlin plans to cut another 200 administrative and ground staff in 2015. As previously mentioned Airberlin will continue to phase out its Boeing 737s and go to an All Airbus fleet.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Operated by LGW, Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) D-ABQH (msn 4256) arrives at Zurich.

Airberlin (Germany) Aircraft Slide Show:

Air Berlin USA Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Air-Berlin-USA

Republic Airways Holdings reports third net income of $18.5 million, will sublease 24 Bombardier Q400s to Flybe

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Indianapolis) reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2014:

Republic’s pre-tax income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2014 was $30.5 million compared to $5.4 million for the prior year’s third quarter. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company incurred an impairment charge of $21.2 million. Absent this impairment, Republic’s pre-tax income from continuing operations increased $3.9 million, or 14.7%.

Republic’s net income for the third quarter of 2014 was $18.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share.

Republic’s pre-tax income from continuing operations for the nine months ending Sept. 30, 2014, was $86.6 million compared to $51.7 million for the same period of 2013. Absent impairment charges in both years and a fair value gain recorded in 2014, Republic’s pre-tax income from continuing operations increased from $72.9 million to $88.1 million, or 20.9%. Republic’s net income for the nine months ending Sept. 30, 2014, was $52.6 million, or $1.01 per diluted share.

During the quarter, the Company announced it would add 50 new E175 aircraft to its Capacity Purchase Agreement with United. The aircraft, which each have a term of 12 years, are expected to be delivered between mid-2015 and mid-2017. The Company and United also agreed to an early wind-down schedule for the Company’s 31 Q400 aircraft currently in operation between early 2015 and late 2016.

As previously report, Republic has entered into a sublease with Flybe Limited, a UK airline, for 24 Q400 aircraft, with deliveries to Flybe coordinated with the removal of the aircraft from United service. The remaining Q400 aircraft will be sold, leased or returned to the lessor after removing them from United service.

Operating Revenue Highlights

Operating revenues increased $11.1 million, or 3.3%, as compared to the third quarter of 2013 to $349.7 million in the third quarter of 2014. Fixed-fee service revenue increased $23.4 million, or 7.3%, to $343.7 million due to increased E175 flying with American Airlines offset by the removal of 15 E140 and 12 E145 aircraft from service. Passenger service revenue decreased $12.6 million because of the removal of E190 aircraft operating under pro-rate agreement with Frontier Airlines.

Operating Expense Highlights

The increase in wages and benefits expenses of $6.7 million, or 7.7%, was primarily due to an increase in E175 operations, an increase in the cost of benefits we provide to our employees and new pilot flight and duty rest regulations.

Fuel expense for the third quarter of 2014 decreased $6.2 million, or 54.9%, as compared to the third quarter of 2013 to $5.1 million primarily due to a 56.9% decrease in gallons consumed related to the elimination of pro-rated flying for Frontier. Fuel expense is primarily attributable to our fixed-fee charter operations and is a pass-through to our customers.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the third quarter of 2014 increased $6.7 million, or 18.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2013 due primarily to the increase in the E175 fleet.

The other impairment charge of $21.2 million during the third quarter of 2013 was due to an impairment charge on owned E190 aircraft and the write-off of maintenance deposits on leased E190 aircraft.

Fleet Highlights

As of September 30, 2014, Republic operated a fleet of 240 aircraft. Through September, the Company has removed 27 ERJ aircraft from CPA service, and has taken delivery of 17 Embraer E175 aircraft and expects to take delivery of seven additional E175 aircraft during the remainder of 2014. As of September 30, 2014, within its fixed-fee and charter agreements, the Company operated 42 aircraft with 44-50 seats and 198 aircraft with 69-99 seats.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Company’s total cash balance decreased $17.2 million to $283.5 million as of Sept. 30, 2014, compared to Dec. 31, 2013. Restricted cash increased $1.8 million, to $25.8 million, from Dec. 31, 2013, due to the escrow requirements under fixed-fee charter agreements. The Company’s unrestricted cash balance decreased $19.0 million, to $257.7 million, from Dec. 31, 2013, due mainly to equity investments into new aircraft and the redemption of a $22.3 million convertible note. A consolidated balance sheet and summary cash flow statement have been included in the tables section of this release.

During the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2014, the Company purchased 212,881 shares of its common stock on the open market at a weighted average price per share of $9.98 pursuant to the open market purchase plan approved on April 7, 2014, for total consideration of $2.1 million.

The Company’s debt increased to $2.35 billion as of September 30, 2014, compared to $2.17 billion at December 31, 2013, primarily related to the financing of 17 new E175 aircraft purchased for our American Airlines fixed-fee agreement partially offset by the Company’s debt repayments. As of September 30, 2014, about 97% of the Company’s debt is at a fixed interest rate. The Company has significant long-term lease obligations for aircraft that are classified as operating leases and are not reflected as liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. At a 6% discount factor, the present value of these lease obligations was about $0.51 billion and $0.59 billion as of Sept. 30, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2013, respectively.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. is an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines (2nd) and Shuttle America.

As of Sept. 30, 2014, the three airlines operated a combined fleet of about 240 aircraft and offered scheduled passenger service on more than 1,300 flights daily to about 100 cities in the U.S. and Canada through fixed-fee flights operated under our major airline partner brands, including American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. As previously reported, United Airlines is dropping the Bombardier Q400 services operated by Republic Airlines (2nd). Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N346NG (msn 4346) arrives at Washington (Reagan National).

United Express-Republic Airlines (2nd) Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/United-Express-Republic

Porter Airlines to resume seasonal service to Burlington, Vermont

Porter Airlines (Toronto-Billy Bishop Toronto City) is resuming seasonal service between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Burlington, Vermont mainly for the upcoming ski season.

Flights begin this year on December 14, continuing until April 5, 2015. The schedule peaks with five weekly flights during the March Break, and ranges from two to four weekly flights during the rest of the season. Porter continues to be the only airline offering direct scheduled flights to Vermont from Toronto.

Top Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GKQA (msn 4357) arrives in Chicago (Midway).

Porter Airlines:

All images below from Porter Airlines.

Air Canada to launch seasonal flights from Toronto to Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

Air Canada (Montreal) announced today that it will introduce nonstop flights between Toronto (Pearson) and Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Service to Mont-Tremblant will be operated four times per week by Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation) with 74-seat Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) aircraft. Flights will operate between December 18, 2014 and March 30, 2015 during peak winter skiing season.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Jazz Aviation’s Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GGMI (msn 4413) in the Air Canada Express markings rests between flights at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

Air Canada: